Vain

The commotion was loud enough that Aileene was able to hear it from her room, even though her balcony doors were closed. It was still too dark outside for her to see what exactly was happening, so she left Lucian's arms and opened her balcony to get outside once again. The wind was still just as cold as it had been before, the moon and stars were just bright enough that once she had reached her railing. She was able to see the clash between her own knights and black-clothed assassins. Her expression was grim as Lucian watched beside her.

"They're not my people," Lucian commented calmly and without much emotions. Aileene raised her head at his words, she was surprised that he would console her so. She turned to him slightly and reached out to hold his hand. Of course, she knew that those people weren't his.

Lucian would never seek to harm her but from his simple words. She was able to sense a small budding doubt, which only made her more guilty. It was her own actions to push him away that led him to believe that she hadn't opened her heart to him from the beginning. He didn't look back at her, as he continued watching the fight but his hand tightens around hers.

"It's the royal family." Aileene sighed, she knew who would have tried to attack her at this point. The Austrion royal family already had doubts about her, with a little more digging, they could slowly find her further involvement. It wouldn't be difficult to guess her knowledge and disloyalty. And she was prepared for this outcome, as she had built a sizable force. She couldn't stay hidden forever, she would one day have to reveal her alliance. But she didn't think it would be this early. She thought she still had another year's time to work through her plans slowly. But her two years was shortened to only one year.

Even if she complained silently in her heart, there was nothing she could do.

Aileene turned away from the scene, she had to escape. Her knights were fighting to protect her if she stayed in her mansion to be ambushed and killed. There would be no point to their fighting, it was no longer safe for her to be in the capital. She has to quickly recoup with her uncle, Kinlar would be the safest place for her now. Since the royal family wouldn't be able to touch her there.

There was only one thing she wasn't sure on, Aileene still held onto Lucian's hands. And he turned to her when he felt her movement, she looked up at him for a bit before averting her eyes. She wasn't sure what he knew and what he didn't know about her. He was the crown prince of Kinlar, so she expected him to have many means. Even the operation against Austrion was under his control from what she learned, she had barely managed to keep her identity as a spy secret. And that was only because he didn't suspect her of being more involved than she appeared on the surface, now that he was exposed to that fact. She knew that she wouldn't be able to hide for long.

"I'll take you away," Lucian said simply, before scooping her up, her face was on his c.h.e.s.t as they descended the balcony. Aileene was a little surprised at the swift motions he had performed, but she quickly calmed down. He had known that she must leave, so he unhesitatingly protected her. It made her heart warm with affectionate, but the more affectionate she felt. The more afraid she was, she had to tell him the truth. But she didn't know how, when they had reunited earlier. She had been pushed into a corner, though the fighting had broke the concentration of Lucian's questioning. She knew that she couldn't keep this up for long, heartlessly leaving him in the dark.

But she had chosen to be alone for so long, it was hard to adjust to his warmth.

❅

The morning had come too quickly for her to process all that she had experienced, but she was with Lucian as the two of them silently left the capital. She had contacted her people to remain hidden and low key during this time and handed over her management to Marquis Leon as he stayed in the capital. There wasn't a destination that Lucian had told her they would escape to, and she didn't have the courage to tell him that she would reside in Kinlar.

As they sat next to each other on the small carriage that they rented, there wasn't a single word that could leave her lips. Aileene was still dawdling, at that moment, she hadn't recognized what she had been so afraid of. Lucian was waiting for her to speak with all the patience in the world, and she wasn't even able to meet his eyes.

She was really too useless.

When Aileene came to sigh at her condition again, she was a little tired. She hadn't slept all night, and now that it was morning. She still couldn't sleep because of her worries, a small frown made its way onto her face. But she soon felt a familiar warmth wrap around her waist. Lucian placed his chin on her shoulder and she could see the reflection of his calm face in the window she was looking out of.

"Aileene, I'll wait for as long as you need." Lucian's arms tighten around her and Aileene kept quiet. "Just don't push me away again."

Aileene's heart shook, and as she turned to Lucian. His lips met hers and her face quickly turned red, she was held in his arms. So there was no way she could move, his kiss was gentle and his breath warmed her face, she soon returned his kisses back just as gently. And shifted her body so that she could wrap her arms around his neck, Lucian was above her as her back was against the side of the carriage.